Yonkers native Kennedy inactive, yet contributes for Giants

Feb. 2, 2012

The Giants’ Jimmy Kennedy is on the sideline but still making a difference. / Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Written by

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After spending the last nine games on the Giants’ inactive list, Jimmy Kennedy isn’t wasting time daydreaming about Super Bowl glory.

There is too much work to be done.

“Watching them guys initially was definitely frustrating,” said the Yonkers native, who signed a one-year free-agent deal to play defensive tackle for the Giants before the season. “The competitive part of me wants to be out there and play, but it’s a chance for me to make sure that I’m healthy, and it’s a chance for me to sit back and help some of the younger guys. I’m definitely not satisfied with my role, but I’m a pro. I’m a team guy, and they asked something of me, and I’ve been trying to do everything in my power to help us win. Hopefully, we get that ring, and you won’t hear anything from me.”

It’s a complicated story.

Kennedy, a former star at Roosevelt High School and Penn State, and a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2003, was brought in to bolster the defensive line and mentor Linval Joseph and the next generation. He spent five games in a rotation up front until a suspension was announced by the NFL in response to a positive test for a banned substance.

He has never fully explained the situation, but the 32-year-old maintains it was not for anabolic steroids. It wound up costing him five games away from teammates. Coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants knew there might be an issue when Kennedy came over from Minnesota, so it was no surprise to the organization.

“The media made something of it, (but) the Giants knew,” Kennedy said. “Coach and those guys, they supported me big-time. I wouldn’t sign here unless they knew what was coming, and they respect me for that. It wasn’t like I blindsided them. I told them, ‘Here’s what the situation is. Here’s what I’m working through.’ … They knew everything, and that’s why I think they respected my professionalism.”

He worked out six days a week during the suspension, dropping a few pounds. Watching the games from a distance each Sunday was no fun.

And when Kennedy got back on the field, there was no place to play. Joseph and Chris Canty were locked in on the inside.

He didn’t need any explanations.

“It’s a competitive business,” he said. “I’m quite sure the Giants wouldn’t respect me if I wasn’t angry about not being on the field. I’m quite sure they would be like, ‘What do we got the guy for?’ Yeah, I’m mad about not being on the field, but with that being said, I transfer my anger in different ways, helping my guys, helping us prepare and putting us in this position where we can win the Super Bowl.”

And if that requires standing on the sideline at Lucas Oil Stadium in sweats, dispensing encouragement, that’s what Kennedy will do Sunday.

“Jimmy is a guy who could start a lot of places,” Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson said. “Worst-case scenario, he would get a ton of playing time. And he comes here and doesn’t play but is still a lifter for the locker room. I’m not talking weights. I’m talking about keeping people ready and showing young guys how to be a pro. You have a young guy like Linval Joseph, who’s kind of learning the ropes, and he gets to see a guy like Jimmy who really has an argument to be as frustrated as anyone because he’s not playing, and he continues to do whatever he’s asked. Jimmy understands that’s part of the team deal, everybody has a different role, and whatever it is, you run with it, and he’s done a great job.”

Collecting and sharing information has always been a strong point.

“He’s a very high-tech guy when it comes to football in terms of studying and watching film,” former Roosevelt coach Tony DeMatteo said. “I remember going back to his room after watching him scrimmage at Penn State, and he still had all this Roosevelt stuff. I quizzed him, and Jimmy still remembered everything. He’s a highly intelligent kid, and he sees the big picture. Jimmy understands, even with all the frustration, he’s still a teammate.”

Kennedy isn’t completely writing off the Super Bowl.

He will be ready to step in and make plays if something unexpected happens to a teammate before the inactive lists are submitted. It could still happen, but there’s no sense dreaming about bringing Tom Brady down.

“I’m all for being a team guy,” Kennedy said. “That’s always been who I am. I went to Penn State. We didn’t have names on the back of our jerseys because it’s all team. We all sit here and we say, ‘All in.’ It’s not, ‘Hey, I’m out, I’m excluded because I’m not in there on Sunday.’ I got my work in today, I’m helping my guys win, and, hopefully, we can leave with a championship.”

A ring would be special regardless .

“Definitely, it’s a dream come true,” Kennedy said of the opportunity. “This is what you play the game for — you play for the opportunity to go and win the Super Bowl. It’s just an added bonus that it’s for my hometown (team).”

As for what’s next, that’s up in the air. “There are some teams out there that could use a solid defensive tackle, and that’s what I’m looking for, but my focus is on helping this team win.”